Adjustable Back Rest Structure

ABSTRACT

An adjustable back rest structure is essentially composed of a soft mat and a plurality of leaning pads. The soft mat at least has a fastening surface, and each of the leaning pads is provided with a locator at the back surface thereof. The soft mat can be covered or laid on a seat, a chair or a bed or the like which is either for sitting or lying. The fastening surface of the soft mat is exposed to be fastened with the locators of the leaning pads thereby fastening the locators respectively at a proper position which matches nearly for individual user&#39;s backbone curve thereby enabling the user to sit down or lie down in an easy posture.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to adjustable back rest structure, andmore particularly, to adjustable back rest structure for a bed or seatssuch as car seat and chair, that contains a plurality of adjustable padsto be affixed to a soft mat so as to sustain the user's body on the backrest comfortably matching the user's back bone curve.

2. Description of the Prior Art

Referring to FIG. 13, in this schematic view of the human backbone,wherein the backbone 100 is configured in S-like shape, and the back ofthe human body is symmetrically structured in two halves (right andleft) with reference to the backbone as the longitudinal axis. Whereinthe backbone 100 is composed of, from upper part to lower part, thecervical vertebra 101, the thoracic vertebra 102, the lumbar vertebra103 and the sacrum 104, wherein the cervical vertebra 101 and the lumbarvertebra 103 each has a recessed portion. In case a person is to keepthe sitting posture for a long time to work, a clearance will be formedbetween the curve of the backbone 100 and the chair or the bed (whenlying down). However, it is hard to find a chair or a bed which is ableto perfectly match individual back bone curve and make the usercomfortable for a reason that everybody has his/her own particular habitto sit or lie. This causes the backbone 100 fail to have a propersupport that leads to bringing about fatigue but also hurt the backbone100 in the long run. Therefore, it is a common practice for person whois almost sitting on a seat or a chair all day long to work that he/sheprepares a back rest for the seat of a chair in order to sustain thelumbar and the back in a comfortable posture nearly matching in thefigure of his/her backbone curve. Indeed the back rest for a chair is avery important accessory for assuring health and comfort of the lumbarand the backbone, it is deplorable that there is no way to have a backrest which may satisfactorily fulfill most of the people's demand aseverybody has his/her own particular stature and the sitting and lyingposture.

Although there are many kinds of back rests for a chair manufacturedaccording to the figure of the human backbone curve or with extraadjustable means, claiming able to solve the above shortcomings,actually there are following common flows:

1. The back rest configured as a human backbone curve has by no means auniversal sustention effect as everybody has his/her own particularstature and the sitting posture.

2. The back rest equipped with an adjustable structure is deemed to beaccompanied with heavy sophisticated means for assembling that leads toan increased fabrication cost and an expensive market price notaffordable for everyone.

For these shortcomings noticeable on the prior art, an improvement isseriously required.

In view of the foregoing situation, the inventor of the presentinvention herein conducted a scrupulous research based on many years ofexperience gained through professional engagement in this field, withcontinuous experimentation and improvement culminating in thedevelopment of the adjustable back rest structure of the presentinvention.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to provide an adjustable backrest structure in which a soft mat is used to be laid on a seat, chair,bed or the equivalent for leaning against or lying down comfortablymatching for the user's backbone curve.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an adjustableback rest structure which contains a portable soft mat with a pluralityof leaning pads to sustain the user's body on a seat, chair or bedmatching for his/her backbone curve anywhere.

It is one more object of the present invention to provide an adjustableback rest structure whose soft mat is covered on an extra sustentationmember that can serve a better sustention effect accompanying theleaning pads.

To achieve these and other objects mentioned above, the adjustable backrest structure of the present invention is essentially composed of asoft mat and a plurality of leaning pads. The aforesaid soft mat, whichis formed of cloth, or a cloth material laminated with soft rubber foamor soft plastic foam that makes the soft mat able to be portably rolledup or folded for putting away. A locator, which is provided on the rearof the leaning pad, is to be easily fastened with the fastening surfaceof the soft mat so as to fasten the leaning pad firmly on the soft mat.When in use, the soft mat is covered on, or laid on a seat, chair, bedor the like. The fastening surface is left exposed for the user to setthe leaning pads appropriately on proper positions of the soft mat inaccordance with his/her backbone curve so as to form a comfortableposture for leaning against or lying down. In the meantime, for a deepchair, a supplementary sustentation member can be inserted under thesoft mat to aid the leaning pads to help the user's pose to match thebackbone curve to the best.

These features and advantages of the present invention will be fullyunderstood and appreciated from the following detailed description ofthe accompanying Drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exploded view in a first embodiment of the presetinvention.

FIG. 2 is an assembled view in a first embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view in a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 4 is an assembled view in a second embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 5 is a schematic view illustrating the composition of the materialused for the soft mat in a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are both schematic views showing how the adjustableback rest structure is installed on a chair.

FIGS. 8A and 8B are both schematic views showing a supplementarysustentation member is used in a fourth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention.

FIGS. 10A and 10B are both schematic view illustrating how the user'sbackbone is supported by leaning pads.

FIG. 11 is a schematic view in a sixth embodiment wherein the adjustableback rest structure of the present invention is applied to a bed.

FIG. 12 is a schematic view in a seventh embodiment wherein theadjustable back rest structure of the present invention is applied to acar seat.

FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a human backbone curve.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, the adjustable back rest structure in afirst embodiment essentially comprises a soft mat 1 and a plurality ofleaning pads 2.

The soft mat 1 having at least a fastening surface 11 is made of clothable to be rolled up or folded for putting away.

The leaning pads 2, each provided with a locator 21 on the rear surface,has a buffering effect. The number of the leaning pads is not limited,but preferably 2 to 5.

The locators 21 are to be fastened to the fastening surface 11 of thesoft mat 1 each adjustably set at a proper position.

The fastening surface 11 of the soft mat 1 is like a looped or hookedsurface of fasteners, Velcro or the like to be fastened with thecorresponding locator 21's fasteners like a hooked or looped surfacethereby firmly grabbing the leaning pad 2 at any desire position on thesoft mat 1.

The size and shape of the leaning pads 2 may be made identical ordifferent with one another for the user to select optionally.

Referring to FIG. 3 and FIG. 4, the second embodiment of the presentinvention differs from the first one shown in FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 that itis provided with at least a fastening strap 3 on the surface of the softmat 1. The fastening strap 3 has a fastening surface 31 to fastened withthe locators 21 of the leaning pads 2 such that the leaning pads 2 maybe fastened to the soft mat 1 at any desired position. Other features ofthe construction are identical to that of the first embodiment shown inFIG. 1 so the description will be omitted.

Meanwhile, the fastening surface 31 of the fastening strap 3 is like ahooked or looped surface of fasteners, and the locator 21 of the leaningpad 2 also has a corresponding looped or hooked fastening surface so asto fasten the leaning pad 2 firmly with the soft mat 1.

Referring to FIG. 5, in a third embodiment of the present invention,other than using a cloth 12, the soft mat 1 may be formed of a cloth 12laminated with a rubber foam 13 or a soft plastic foam. One surface ofthe soft mat 1 is a fastening surface 11 while the other one thereof isa skid proof surface. The soft mat 1 can be rolled up or folded forputting away.

Referring to FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, both are schematic views showing how toinstall the adjustable back rest on a chair. As shown in FIG. 6, a cover14 provided to one end of the soft mat 1 is covered on the back 41 of achair 4, or alternatively shown in FIG. 7, an end of the soft mat 1 andthe head of the back 41 of the chair 4 are fastened with each otherthrough fasteners 5. Both means elucidated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 are ableto cover the soft mat 1 on the back 41 of the chair 4. The fasteningsurface 11 of the soft mat 1 is exposed to fasten the leaning pads 2 atany desired location on it so as to sustain the user's lumbar, back andneck comfortable along the backbone.

It should be understood that means for installing the soft mat 1 on thechair 4 elucidated in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7 is but one of the embodiment ofthe present invention, and shall not be construed as limitationsapplicable to the invention herein. All the cases in which the soft mat1 has a fastening surface 11 to bond the leaning pads 2 and then coveron the chair 4 will apparently come within the meaning and range ofequivalency of the claims of the present invention, and therefore shallbe embraced therein.

Referring to FIGS. 8A and 8B, in the fourth embodiment, there isprovided a supplementary sustentation member 6 having a sustentationsurface 61 and the shape near human backbone curve to serve as asustention framework or sustention plastic board by inserting it betweenthe back 41 of the seat (chair) and the mat 1. The fastening surface 61thereof is exposed to allow covering or enclosing the soft mat 1 oversuch that the backbone of the user 7 is sustained by the sustentationmember 6, and the leaning pads 2 on the soft mat 1 aid to sustain theuser's backbone more perfectly by adjusting their positions to correctthe shape of the sustentation member 6 more close to that of the user'sbackbone.

Referring to FIG. 9, in the fifth embodiment the soft mat 1 is affixedto the fastening surface 61 of the sustentation member 6 and exposingits fastening surface 11 for setting the locators 21 of the leaning pad2 on it.

Referring to FIGS. 10A and 10B, the schematic view illustrates how theuser's backbone is supported by the leaning pads. As shown in FIG. 10A,as the human back is symmetrically configured right and left, hence aplurality of leaning pads 2 are used to support the backbone curve 71 sothat the human body may be sustained at both sides of the backbone.Further to this, in order to sustain the recessed portions of thecervical vertebra 101 and the lumbar vertebra 103 along the backbonecurve 71 (see FIG. 13 also), a plurality of leaning pads 2 are used forsustaining the backbone curve 71 by putting them along any necessaryposition including under the lumbar or neck or elsewhere, or as shown inFIG. 10B, the leaning pads 2 are stacked on top of each other in anearly triangular shape longitudinally and transversely elongated barshape or in other geometrical configuration so as to let the user 7enjoy a comfortable feeling by being sustained at the backbone, lumbar,neck or back. The leaning pads 2 can be randomly settled at the desiredposition on the soft mat 1 such that the user 7 may adjust the leaningpads 2 to the position according to the actually need thereby able tokeep sitting for a long time without feeling bodily fatigue.

Referring to FIG. 11, in the sixth embodiment the soft mat 1 is laid onthe bed surface 81 of a mattress 8 with the leaning pads 2 distributedat proper position where they shall be placed such as under the user'sneck, back, lumbar, legs and ankles to allow the user 7 keeping aposture corresponding to the backbone curve as near as possible therebycapable of enjoying easy sleep.

Referring to FIG. 12, in this seventh embodiment of the presentinvention, the sustentation member 6 or the soft mat 1 is laid on thecar seat 91 of a car 9 so as to sustain the driver's backbone curvethereby enabling the driver to run the car 9 comfortably.

Therefore, by removing the stacked leaning pads at random, the user mayproperly fill the clearance between the backbone and the chair or thebed so as to assure a reliable sustention effect.

In short, it emerges from the description of the above embodiments thatthe invention has several noteworthy advantages, in particular:

1. The product of the present invention is applicable to any furniturefor sitting and lying to sustain the user with a right and comfortableposture by only adjusting the leaning pads to a proper position.

2. The equipment is portable to any place for use.

3. A supplementary sustentation member can be inserted under the softmat to aid the leaning pads to correct the user's pose to match thebackbone curve as near as possible.

4. The equipment is widely applicable to various kinds of seats, chairs,beds sofas, vehicle seats or Japanese Mat (Tatami).

Many changes and modifications in the above described embodiments of theinvention can, of course, be carried out without departing from thescope thereof. Accordingly, to promote the progress in science and theuseful arts, the invention is disclosed and is intended to be limitedonly by the cope of the appended claims.

1. Adjustable back rest structure comprising: a soft mat having at leasta fastening surface able to be rolled up and folded for putting away;and a plurality of leaning pads each provided with a locator at the backsurface thereof, wherein the locators of said leaning pads are fastenedwith the fastening surface of said soft mat such that said leaning padscan be fastened to said soft mat.
 2. Adjustable back rest structure ofclaim 1, wherein said soft mat is made of cloth.
 3. Adjustable back reststructure of claim 1, wherein said soft mat is a piece of clothlaminated with a soft rubber foam.
 4. Adjustable back rest structure ofclaim 1, wherein said soft mat is a piece of cloth laminated with a softplastic foam.
 5. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 1, wherein saidsoft mat is provided with a cover at one end for covering the back of achair.
 6. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 1, wherein said softmat and said back of the chair can be fastened each other with loopedand hooked fasteners.
 7. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 1,wherein the best number of said leaning pads is 2 to
 5. 8. Adjustableback rest structure of claim 1, wherein the fastening surface of saidsoft mat is formed of a looped or hooked surface such as fasteners orVelcro, while the locator of said leaning pad has corresponding hookedor looped surface so as to firmly fasten said leaning pads with saidsoft mat.
 9. Adjustable back rest structure comprising: a soft mathaving a fastening strap formed on at least one surface thereof, saidfastening strap being provided with a fastening surface, and said softmat being able to roll up; and a plurality of leaning pads each providedwith a locator at the back surface thereof, wherein the locators of saidleaning pads are fastened with the fastening strap of said soft mat suchthat said leaning pads can be fastened to said soft mat.
 10. Adjustableback rest structure of claim 9, wherein said soft mat is made of cloth.11. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 9, wherein said soft mat isa piece of cloth laminated with a soft rubber foam.
 12. Adjustable backrest structure of claim 9, wherein said soft mat is a piece of clothlaminated with a soft plastic foam plastic.
 13. Adjustable back reststructure of claim 9, wherein said soft mat is provided with a cover atone end for covering the back of a chair.
 14. Adjustable back reststructure of claim 9, wherein said soft mat and said back of the chaircan be fastened each other with fasteners.
 15. Adjustable back reststructure of claim 9, wherein the best number of said leaning pads is 2to
 5. 16. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 9, wherein thefastening surface of said soft mat is formed of fasteners or Velcro likelooped or hooked surface, while the locator of said leaning pad hascorresponding fasteners or Velcro like hooked or looped surface so as tofirmly fasten said leaning pad with said soft mat.
 17. Adjustable backrest structure comprising: a soft mat having at least a fasteningsurface and able to be rolled up; a plurality of leaning pads eachprovided with a locator at the back surface thereof, and a sustentationmember having a sustentation surface configured nearly according to thehuman backbone curve; wherein said soft mat is covered on, enclosedover, or adhered to the sustentation surface of said sustentationmember, and fastening the locators of said leaning pads on the fasteningsurface of said soft mat such that said leaning pads are fastened tosaid soft mat.
 18. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 17, whereinsaid sustentation member is a sustention framework.
 19. Adjustable backrest structure of claim 17, wherein said sustentation member is a hardplastic board.
 20. Adjustable back rest structure of claim 17, whereinthe best number of said leaning pads is 2 to 5.